IPEC Advocates for Mandatory Passenger Liability Cover
The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) has stepped in to provide compensation to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the recent accident on the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway.
The accident, which occurred on 2025, claimed the lives of 25 people and left several others injured. The ICZ has since announced that it will provide compensation to the families of the victims, in accordance with the country’s insurance laws.
Meanwhile, the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) has called for the mandatory implementation of passenger liability cover for all public transport operators. IPEC Commissioner, Grace Muradzikwa told the Post On Sunday Newspaper that this must be enforced.
“As the regulator we are encouraging insurance companies to compensate victims of accidents, in this case, ICZ has stepped in Ex-gratia, which has been happening for the past 5 years in all national disaster cases.”
Dr Grace Muradzikwa, Commissioner of the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC)
Alarmingly, most public vehicle operators lack Passenger Liability Cover,” said Muradzikwa. “As the regulator, we’re urging operators to comply and the police to enforce this policy, making it mandatory to display proof of coverage. We also encourage commuters to demand this information when boarding public transport.”
Muradzikwa further explained, because of the financial requirements needed, it is against public policy to compensate uninsured members, but as IPEC together with the Government of Zimbabwe it was seen as a noble idea to step in, in cases of national disasters, while urging citizens to acquire various insurance covers that will help them when tragedy falls.
According to Muradzikwa, less than 50 percent of the public passengers vehicles have liability covers, which is meant to cover the passengers, and it is an unfair practice to always compensate uninsured accident victims. There should be a difference, said Muradzikwa, for those who have insurance cover and those without.
In a stunning admission, Transport Minister Felix Mhona disclosed that the Urban Connect bus involved in the devastating accident near Beitbridge, which claimed 25 lives, lacked a route permit, and its driver had no valid retest certificate. This revelation has sparked widespread outrage, with many Zimbabweans questioning how the bus was allowed to operate without proper documentation and how it could pass through Police Road-Blocks.
Cases of police arresting vehicles and demanding spot fines has been widely criticized as they extort money from the public and getting bribes from the real offenders carrying the lives of many in the country’s hjighway. in recent months Parliament reported, an increase of police in the high and byways of the country, a moved described by scholars as day-light robbery by the government of the days as many roads are in deplorable state, demanding drivers to spend more time in garages under the car instead of inside their vehicles.
Mhona’s announcement came after a visit to the accident scene, accompanied by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe and Minister of State for Matabeleland South Evelyn Ndlovu. The delegation also visited Beitbridge Hospital to check on the injured and paid respects to the grieving families at Doves Funeral Parlour.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus driver’s retest had expired in 2021, and the Urban Connect bus had no route permit. Mhona hinted that the government might ban Urban Connect from operating altogether. The Ministry of Transport emphasized that “wayward driving, which does not respect the sanctity of life, will not be tolerated”.
The Masvingo-Beitbridge highway has been identified as one of the most dangerous roads in the country, with numerous accidents occurring on the stretch in recent years.
Source: https://postonsunday.co.zw/2025/02/16/icz-offers-compensation-to-masvingo-beitbridge-highway-accident-victims-ipec-advocates-for-mandatory-passenger-liability-cover/
